This book is the first to provide an extensive analysis of the range of defences to payment under letters of credit and demand guarantees.
It considers the extent to which different defences undermine the abstraction of these instruments. This is a fundamental issue, since letters of credit and demand guarantees are designed to be abstract, or autonomous, from the underlying contract that called for their use. The purpose of that abstraction is to provide certainty of payment, but the various defences diminish that certainty. The book examines the spectrum of defences that are frequently litigated and debated in international practice: fraud in the documents, nullity, fraud affecting deferred payment letters of credit, fraud as no honest belief, unconscionable conduct and illegality. Vitally, the book provides analysis of the relevant judicial decisions and offers clear practical guidance on which defences are most suitable for each instrument.
As the instruments are heavily used in international trade, this work is particularly suited to financial and commercial law practitioners who draft agreements, as well as those who advise on disputes concerning these instruments. Accessible and engaging, the book is also relevant for academics and students.

This new edition of International Acquisition Finance builds on the success of the first edition in providing a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the law and practice of acquisition finance from the viewpoint of leading lawyers in over 20 different jurisdictions including the UK, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA. New jurisdictions for this edition include Hong Kong, India and Poland.
The work contains an overview of the relevant issues to provide the reader with an understanding of structuring cross-border acquisition finance transactions and solutions to relevant legal problems. Each chapter deals with the stages of the proposed transaction and its financing and the related issues which need to be considered in the different jurisdictions.
This fully updated new edition reflects recent changes to the law in all jurisdictions, including the implementation in England of the Companies Act 2006 whose effects include the abolition of the prohibition of financial assistance for private companies and changes to the way in which charges are registered.
Also included is new coverage of acquisitions from insolvency practitioners, regulation affecting financial institution investment practices and other changes brought about by the current economic conditions, as well as a new chapter on public company acquisitions written by Stephen Powell of Slaughter & May. In addition relevant legal and practical considerations involved in public company acquisitions are considered in each jurisdictional chapter.

Private companies exert considerable control over the flow of information on the internet. Whether users are finding information with a search engine, communicating on a social networking site or accessing the internet through an ISP, access to participation can be blocked, channelled, edited or personalised. Such gatekeepers are powerful forces in facilitating or hindering freedom of expression online. This is problematic for a human rights system which has historically treated human rights as a government responsibility, and this is compounded by the largely light-touch regulatory approach to the internet in the West. Regulating Speech in Cyberspace explores how these gatekeepers operate at the intersection of three fields of study: regulation (more broadly, law), corporate social responsibility and human rights. It proposes an alternative corporate governance model for speech regulation, one that acts as a template for the increasingly common use of non-state-based models of governance for human rights.

Patent assertion entities (commonly known as 'patent trolls') hurt competition and innovation. This book, the first to analyze the most salient issues related to patent assertion entities around the world, integrates economic theory with economic and legal reality to examine how the entities function and their impact on competition. It also offers legal and policy solutions that might be used to combat them. Edited by D. Daniel Sokol, the volume collects chapters from an array of leading scholars who describe patent assertion entities in the United States, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and China, while offering empirical accounts of the entities' economic consequences and their use of litigation as a means of legal extortion against many of the most innovative companies in the world, from startups to multinationals. It should be read by anyone interested in how patent assertion entities operate and how they might be stopped.

The Law of Institutional Investment Management fills a gap for a work that describes the custom and practice of the institutional investment management industry with reference to both English law and to the European regulatory framework. The governing theme of the work is the structure of the institutional investement process. The work seeks to define the legal risks that an institutional investor who invests in the financial markets through a professional investment manager must be aware of, both in relation to the investment manager and in relation to the financial markets. The analysis addresses the key investment strategies and management styles, the investment manager's responsibility for delivering investment returns through asset allocation and asset selection decisions, the execution of those decisions, and the management of conflicts. The discussion includes an in-depth analysis of the modi operandi of various trading venues, the structure and legal aspects of key financial market transactions (including on-exchange and OTC traded derivatives, and securities lending and repo transactions), and the legal aspects of cash and securities movements in connection with settlement and collateralisation of those financial market transactions.

The emerging field of corporate law, corporate governance and sustainability is one of the most dynamic and significant areas of law and policy in light of the convergence of environmental, social and economic crises that we face as a global society. Understanding the impact of the corporation on society and realizing its potential for contributing to sustainability is vital for the future of humanity. This Handbook comprehensively assesses the state-of-the-art in this field through in-depth discussion of sustainability-related problems, numerous case studies on regulatory responses implemented by jurisdictions around the world, and analyses of predominant strategies and potential drivers of change. This Handbook will be an essential reference for scholars, students, practitioners, policymakers, and general readers interested in how corporate law and governance have exacerbated global society's most pressing challenges, and how reforms to these fields can help us resolve those challenges and achieve sustainability.

This book outlines the financial services regulatory framework in 16 countries in the Asia Pacific region. Contributors from leading commercial law firms across the region provide a clear explanation of the relevant regulatory bodies and their powers, with consideration of the effects of each jurisdiction's national legislation.
This title is supported by two companion volumes covering Europe and the Middle East. The series describes the principle regulatory authorities that oversee the banking, insurance and securities activities within each country. A highly practical Questions and Answers section highlights the key issues of practical importance: What enforcement powers do the relevant authorities in each country have? What scope is there for foreign entities to conduct banking, insurance, securities activities and fund marketing activities in or into each country? What is the authorization and registration process in each jurisdiction? Supporting commentary examines the nature and scope of the current regulation and prospective market developments.
The complete three volume series covers over 60 countries and is an essential reference point for those needing a practical insight into international financial services regulation and the regimes operating within jurisdictions other than their own.

This book outlines the financial services regulatory framework in 11 countries in the Middle East. Contributors from leading commercial law firms across the region provide a clear explanation of the relevant regulatory bodies and their powers, with consideration of the effects of each jurisdiction's national legislation.
This title is supported by two companion volumes covering Europe and Asia Pacific. The series describes the principle regulatory authorities that oversee the banking, insurance and securities activities within each country. A highly practical Questions and Answers section highlights the key issues of practical importance: What enforcement powers do the relevant authorities in each country have? What scope is there for foreign entities to conduct banking, insurance, securities activities and fund marketing activities in or into each country? What is the authorisation and registration process in each jurisdiction? Supporting commentary examines the nature and scope of the current regulation and prospective market developments.
The complete three volume series covers over 60 countries and is an essential reference point for those needing a practical insight into international financial services regulation and the regimes operating within jurisdictions other than their own.

Security Over Receivables: An International Handbook is a practical guide to the key issues involved in taking security over receivables in 39 jurisdictions. Adopting a jurisdiction by jurisdiction structure, each chapter examines the key matters to consider when taking security over debts in a particular region.
Each analysis is followed by a case study, to exemplify and elucidate the central principles which arise in practice. A comparative table is also included to outline and illustrate the distinguishing aspects of taking security over debts in each country. The chapter from UNCITRAL gives a useful explanation of the position from an international law perspective. This work is a valuable preliminary reference point for practitioners advising on finance transactions, which involve security over receivables in a foreign jurisdiction.

Jurisdictions covered include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New York, New Zealand, Poland, Russian Federation, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

With contributions from well-respected lawyers from leading international firms in each jurisdiction, this book provides practitioners worldwide with considerable assistance when dealing with cross-border transactions in a number of different jurisdictions.

Defamation and privacy are now two central issues in media law. While defamation law has long posed concerns for media publications, the emergence of privacy as a legal challenge has been relatively recent in many common law jurisdictions outside the US. A number of jurisdictions have seen recent defamation and privacy law reforms, which have often drawn on, or reacted against, developments elsewhere. This timely book examines topical issues in defamation and privacy law focused on media, journalism and contemporary communication. Aimed at a wide legal audience, it brings together leading and emerging analysts of media law to address current and proposed reforms and the impact of changes in communication environments, and to re-examine basic principles such as harm and free speech. This book will be of interest to all those working on commonwealth or US law, as well as comparative scholars from wider jurisdictions.

In this book, the author analyses the law and practice relating to the classification, drafting, validity and enforcement of contracts relating to jurisdiction and choice of law. The focus is on English law, EU law and common law measures, but there is also some comparative material built in. The book will be useful in particular to practising lawyers seeking to draft, interpret or enforce the types of contract discussed, but the in-depth discussion will also be valuable to academic lawyers specialising in private international law. Written by an academic who is also a practising barrister, this book gives in-depth coverage of how the instruments and principles of private international law can be used for the resolution of cross-border or multi-jurisdictional disputes. It examines the operation and application of the Brussels Regulation, the Rome Convention and the Hague Convention on Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements in such disputes, but also discusses the judgments and decisions of the courts in significant cases such as Turner v Grovit, Union Discount v Zoller, and De Wolf v Cox. Much of the book is given over to practical evaluation of how agreements on jurisdiction and choice of law should be put together, with guidance on, amongst other things, drafting of the agreements (including some sample clauses), severability of agreements, consent, and the resolution of disputes by arbitration.

The ever-evolving nature of electronic commerce and social media continues to challenge the capacity of the courts to respond to privacy and security violations in 'cyberlaw'. Social Media and Electronic Commerce Law is designed to provide students and legal practitioners with a thorough and engaging exploration of the laws, regulations and grey areas of commerce via online platforms. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to address changes in legislation and recent court judgments, and to reflect the dynamic sphere of social media. New chapters focus on internet and e-commerce law regarding social media, P2P file sharing, Cloud computing and workplace issues, with an emphasis on data security made particularly relevant by the proliferation of hacking incidents. Written in an accessible style, Social Media and Electronic Commerce Law investigates the challenges facing legal practitioners and commercial parties in this dynamic field, as well as the underlying legal theory that governs it.

Mergers and acquisitions in China are becoming increasingly relevant to practitioners both in and outside of China as a secondary M&A market in China develops and as an increasing number of global M&A deals have a China component. In addition, there are increasing opportunities for private equity and other financial investors. In this new book, Seung Chong gives a full account of practical issues arising in mergers and acquisitions in China as well as providing substantive commentary on relevant legal principles. He draws together overarching issues such as transaction structure and process, merger control and government approvals while giving references to international practice throughout, resulting in a practice-oriented and extremely accessible text.

Since the financial crisis, one of the key priorities of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has been individual accountability. This book addresses the regulatory and employment law challenges that arise from the FCA's and PRA's requirements. The expert team of writers examine in depth the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 which relate to individuals, and the associated requirements of the PRA and FCA. The topics addressed include: The Senior Manager, Certification and Approved Person Regimes Regulatory references and whistleblowing Disciplinary investigations, enforcement and sanctions Notifications, 'Form C', and fitness & propriety Bonus disputes and the Remuneration Code Conduct and Pay in the Financial Services Industry considers the full extent of an individual's employment, from pre-contractual discussions to the post-termination clawback of remuneration. It is a vital reference for lawyers and human resources professionals working within the financial services industry, both in-house and in private practice. It will also be of interest to all academics, regulators and policy-makers involved in this sector.

The new edition of this book gives a comprehensive update and analysis of European law as it affects competition in EU energy markets, especially oil, gas and electricity. This includes all relevant directives, regulations, Treaty provisions (including the energy chapter in the draft EU Constitution), case law and decisions of the ECJ, the CFI and the European Commission competition authorities. Appropriate consideration is also given to the new developments in EU legal relations with Norway, Switzerland and other neighbouring countries. In this edition a special chapter examines the growing impact of environmental rules on the energy sector, especially with respect to renewable energy, nuclear power and the EU emissions trading scheme. A new section on the competition law framework explains and describes in detail the growing impact of competition law instruments such as merger control, state aid and antitrust in this sector. The new edition also explains the greatly enhanced role of the national energy regulatory authorities and the European Competition Network in enforcing law at the European level, as well as the various challenges that may be made to their decisions. The approach adopted in this edition is primarily analytical and practical, treating each problem that has arisen in application of the law and assessing the efficacy of the solution adopted. It examines the tensions that arise in the law as a result of conflicting policy objectives on environmental, internal market and security of supply concerns. The new edition draws on the insights of a high-level advisory panel of senior pracitioners, regulators and academics in the sector. The panel is made up of Professor Sir David Edward, formerly at the ECJ; Maria Rehbinder, the Head of Unit for Energy and Water at DG Competition, European Commission; David Newbery, economics professor at Cambridge University; and Michael Brothwood, solicitor and occasional advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on Europe.

Private companies exert considerable control over the flow of information on the internet. Whether users are finding information with a search engine, communicating on a social networking site or accessing the internet through an ISP, access to participation can be blocked, channelled, edited or personalised. Such gatekeepers are powerful forces in facilitating or hindering freedom of expression online. This is problematic for a human rights system which has historically treated human rights as a government responsibility, and this is compounded by the largely light-touch regulatory approach to the internet in the West. Regulating Speech in Cyberspace explores how these gatekeepers operate at the intersection of three fields of study: regulation (more broadly, law), corporate social responsibility and human rights. It proposes an alternative corporate governance model for speech regulation, one that acts as a template for the increasingly common use of non-state-based models of governance for human rights.

This set deals with the problems generated by those cases of insolvency (either of an individual or of a company) where the presence of contacts with more than one system of law brings into operation the principles and methods of private international law (also known as conflict of laws).
Part I of the main work is mainly devoted to an examination of the body of rules and practice that has evolved in England during the course of the past two-and-a-half centuries, and surveys the current state of the law derived from a blend of statutory and case authorities. Contrasting approaches under a selection of foreign systems -- principally Australia, Canada, France and the USA -- are examined by way of comparison. There are up-to-date accounts of the circumstances under which insolvency proceedings can be opened in respect of debtors which are not primarily based in England, and of the grounds on which English courts will recognize foreign insolvency proceedings and give assistance to the foreign representative of the debtor's estate.
Part II of the main work explores the progress towards the creation of international arrangements to co-ordinate and rationalize the conduct of insolvency proceedings which have cross-border features, particularly where the debtor is capable of being subjected to concurrent proceedings in two or more jurisdictions. Central to the developments described in detail in this Part are the EC Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency.
This set includes the supplement to the second edition, which covers key developments in case law and legislation in the subject up to October 2006, and is an essential purchasefor all who have already bought the main work. It includes the full text of the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006, along with commentary on the regulations. The supplement also includes the text of Council Regulation 694/2006, amending EC Regulation 1346/2000 on insolvency proceedings, and references to key developments in case law, including Eurofood IFSC Ltd, Daisytek ISA, and Cambridge Gas Transport Corp v Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Navigator Holdings plc. The commentary on case developments links back to the relevant paragraph in the main work.
New to this Edition:
New supplement updating the second edition with commentary on recent developments, to October 2006
Major recasting of chapter 6 (formerly dealing with the (by then) dormant EC Convention on Insolvency Proceedings) now giving an account of the EC Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings, in force since 31 May 02
Adjustments throughout the book to explain the impact of the Regulation on other aspects of law and practice
Full account is taken of statutory and case law developments since 1998
There is a new chapter assessing other international developments since 1998 including the ALI Transnational Insolvency Project; the World Bank Principles and Guidelines; and the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law (completed 2004)

Russian Foreign Relations and Investment Law is the fourth volume in OUP's Russian law mini-series and is the first comprehensive study of Russian foreign relations law which examines the legal rights of, and limitations on, foreigners in Russia. Increasing investment in Russia makes this an ideal time to publish a further volume with the focus on this area. With the emphasis placed on the commercial investor, Butler provides a thorough guide from both perspectives of the foreigner trading into Russia and the foreign investor exporting from within Russia. Through twelve logical chapters Butler covers areas such as foreign trade law, foreign investment law, different types of foreigners and thier rights, aspects of employment law, civil law rights and duties, and general principles of international law all within the context of the Russian legal system. This text is a welcome addition to the other titles in series:The Civil Code of the Russian Federation , Russian Company and Commercial Legislation and the second edition of Professor Butler's acclaimed general text Russian Law .

This monograph is concerned with two foundational principles of English property law: the principle of relativity of title and the principle that possession is a source of title. It is impossible to understand the relationship between possession and ownership in English law unless one has a sound understanding of these principles. Yet the principles have been interpreted in different ways by judges, practitioners, and academics. The volume seeks to illuminate this area of law by addressing four questions. What is possession? What is the nature of the title acquired through possession? What are the grounds of relativity of title? And, what is the relationship between relativity of title and ownership? Drawing on the analysis of the law concerning relativity of title and the acquisition of proprietary interests through possession, the author also implies that the architecture of land law and the law of personal property have many similarities.

The law of marine insurance constitutes a major branch of the law of international trade and shipping law which is of considerable international importance. This new edition gives a clear, updated account of English marine insurance law, combining detailed analysis of modern statute and case law with a clear comprehension of practice and commerce in the shipping world. The discussion embraces not only the constantly evolving case law, but also standard forms and clauses (including the 2003 International Hull Clauses), and the rules of mutual insurance associations. Coverage includes all relevant areas of general insurance contract law as well as all issues of specifically marine insurance law. The entire text of the second edition has been considered afresh and includes significant new or additional material in particular relating to: historical background, insurable interest, policy formation, the doctrine of utmost good faith, premiums, policy interpretation, excluded losses, third party rights, losses, claims, aversion and minimisation of loss, insurers' contribution rights, and composite policies. Presenting a revised structure with the practitioner in mind, this new edition includes a new chapter on interpretation and rectification of insurance contracts.

Public procurement represents a specialist yet important area of practice in the European and international business and commercial legal environment. This book offers an inclusive, coherent and practical analysis of the relevant law and jurisprudence, with the principal focus on the case law of the European Court of Justice in the public procurement field. The author provides the reader with a taxonomy of the themes and reasoning that has been used by the Court, and a convenient conceptual framework for practitioners and academics alike.

Merger control in the United Kingdom has recently entered a new phase in its development. The advent of the relevant aspects of the Enterprise Act 2002 has been welcomed as a "depoliticisation" of the regime. The role of the Secretary of State has been all but excised, and the substantive criteria against which mergers are assessed have been revised to offer formally a competition-based standard. Together with guidance published subsequently, the reforms also prescribe a range of new procedural guarantees for those parties affected under the regime. In addition, the EC merger control regime and in particular the nature of its relationship with the competent authorities of the Member States has been significantly revised.
It is against this backdrop that the authors--leading experts with first rate regulatory, practical and academic experience--offer a comprehensive statement of the law, architecture, and procedure of merger control in the United Kingdom; explain the factors pertinent to the economic appraisal of mergers in a manner accessible to a legal audience; and give invaluable practical guidance on managing the transactional process and regulatory risk.

This is a practical guide to the subject of financial assistance for the acquisition of shares, in which the authors give a detailed analysis of the current legislation and a critical review of the relevant case law. Financial assistance is a complex, technical and highly regulated aspect of company law, and mistakes have serious civil consequences and criminal sanctions. This book assists practitioners with the interpretation of this difficult area of law and allows them to advise with confidence. Financial assistance is one of the most challenging areas of company law. It is renowned for causing practical difficulties and for the risk involved of giving advice on this area. This book seeks to interpret the position of financial assistance by close reference to the statutory material and abundant case law. Part I deals with the derivation of the legislation and sets out the legislation verbatim with a commentary thereon. Part II contains further analysis of the component parts of the prohibition on the giving of financial assistance. Part III offers factual and critical analysis of some of the most significant cases on this area of the law. The relevant cases will also be cited in Part I and II.